Mudslides in the Philippines
Recent storms in the Philippines have killed a known 640 people and there are about 400 others missing. One of the causes is mudslides caused by illegal logging and bad forest management practices. CNN has
an interesting story:
bq.
Logging suspended in Philippines
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has suspended logging and pledged to prosecute violators after two storms set off mudslides and floods that killed 640 people and left nearly 400 missing in the northern Philippines.
bq. Deforestation has stripped hillsides of vegetation that might have held mud and other debris in place during last week's tropical storm and typhoon, and many believe years of illegal logging set off the landslides.
bq. Reinforcing that view, Arroyo said Saturday that illegal loggers would be prosecuted like terrorists, kidnappers, drug traffickers and other hardened criminals and called for unity amid the disaster.
bq. "Our unity will lift up the nation from this tragedy in no time and bring justice to those who have needlessly suffered," she said on a visit to the hard-hit coastal town of Real in Quezon province.
bq. She added: "I'm canceling all (logging) permits here and suspending issuance of all others."
Posted by DaveH at December 4, 2004 11:14 PM